Essendon coach Brad Scott has praised Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s sincere self-reflection because the goalsneak makes an attempt to win again his spot within the Bombers’ senior facet.
McDonald-Tipungwuti retired from the AFL halfway by final yr earlier than making a welcome U-turn in November.
The 30-year-old continues to be behind the eight ball by way of his health, and he was dropped following a goalless show in opposition to West Coast in spherical 11.
McDonald-Tipungwuti will proceed to play within the VFL for the foreseeable future whereas finishing a modified coaching program, with Scott hopeful the skilful ahead will push for senior choice once more quickly.
“Walla, by his own admission, wants to get fitter, and he’s really driving that,” Scott advised reporters on Thursday.
“He’s really impressed me. It’s an incredible effort to get to where he is right now after so long out of the game. He was coming from so far back.
“But he by his personal admission has stated, ‘I must get fitter’.
“He acknowledges there are other players who are in a better physical condition than he is, and he needs to get to that level to give himself the best opportunity.
“We’re not going to take him out of video games, he is nonetheless going to play within the VFL.
“But we’ll use this period to put in extra work during the week, to get him to a stage where he can come back in and play really good AFL footy.”
The sixth-placed Bombers (7-5) shall be aiming to make it 4 wins on the trot after they tackle struggling Carlton on the MCG on Sunday night time.
With issues operating easily on the sector, a lot consideration has been positioned on the futures of star Essendon duo Mason Redman and Darcy Parish, who each qualify as restricted free brokers on the finish of the season.
Scott hopes the duo will determine to remain.
“We love Mason, we love Darcy Parish,” Scott stated.
“But I’m really conscious they’ve got big decisions to make individually.
“That’s the free company panorama. I’m not going to place any strain on them. I’m simply going to attempt to promote the imaginative and prescient and present what we will construct as a membership.
“It’s up to them ultimately to make the decision.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
